Federal Funding for Early Learning and Child Care

This historic $1.1-billion agreement will support an early learning and child care system in Saskatchewan based on the following principles:

• Affordability – Reduce out-of-pocket parent fees for regulated child care spaces for children under age six by an average of 50 per cent from 2019 levels by the end of December 2022 and further reduce fees to an average of $10/day by the end of fiscal year 2025-26.
• Access – Increasing the number of regulated spaces in the province by 28,000 by 2026.
• Inclusive – Support inclusive programming for children that require additional supports to access early learning programs, as well as vulnerable children and children from diverse populations. Also work collaboratively with First Nations and Métis partners to ensure Indigenous children have access to affordable, high-quality, and culturally appropriate early learning and child care.
• Quality – Develop and implement a wage grid and invest in training opportunities to build a qualified workforce to support the developmental outcomes of young children.

Four-year Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Early Learning and Child Care Agreement

Saskatchewan also signed the 2021-2025, four-year, $68.5-million extension of the Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Early Learning and Child Care Agreement including an additional $17.2-million workforce funding in 2021-22. The key actions will include the following:

• Accessibility – Expand access to high quality child care programs (includes Family Resource Centres)
• Inclusivity – Opportunities for preschool aged children experiencing disability
• Minority language inclusion – Francophone early learning and child care
• Quality – Enhance early learning and child care experiences for children
• Administration – Support the ongoing operations of investments under the Agreement.

The workforce development funding was provided in 2021-2022 under the Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Early Learning and Child care Agreement. The funding was to support the objective to attract and retain a qualified workforce and included:

• Increased support for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) – a one-time enhancement to the operational funding child care centres receive to allow child care centres to enhance wages of certified ECEs.
• Building a qualified workforce – Investments in formal post-secondary education that leads to Early Childhood Educators (ECE) certification in Levels I, II, and III.
• Continuous professional learning and skills enhancement – Development and delivery of opportunities to support the professional learning needs and interests of the regulated child care sector.

The previous bilateral agreements (2017-18 to 2020-21) between the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan helped support Saskatchewan children get the best start in life. The agreements allocated just over $56 million, over four years, to Saskatchewan for early learning and child care investments. In August 2021, the Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Agreement was extended until 2024-25, providing for continued investment in Saskatchewan for children under the age of six.

The full agreements are available through the Government of Canada.

As committed to under the Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, Saskatchewan will annually report the results and expenditures of the early learning and child care programs and services developed through the agreements.

• View the Can-Sask Bilateral ELCC Agreement Reports

Saskatchewan has committed to report the results and expenditures of the workforce development funding under the Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

• View the Can-Sask ELCC Workforce Agreement Reports

As committed to under the Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, Saskatchewan will annually report the results and expenditures of the early learning and child care programs and services.

• View the Can-Sask ELCC Agreement Reports

An update on the province’s progress towards the actions within the Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement was shared with the federal government in December 2022.

• View the Implementation Committee Progress Report

Investments through the Agreements have resulted in more child care options, new programming options that allow for greater access and flexibility for families and improved quality in our early learning and child care sector. The funding supported the creation of:

Newly Regulated Child Care Spaces

Saskatchewan has partnered with federal early learning and child care priorities to create new child care centre spaces for children under six.

Allocation of spaces support holistic child development. Communities with a high need for child care and a capacity to develop a child care centre in a timely manner are prioritized.

Additional considerations for creating new child care centre spaces include the ability to offer flexible child care arrangements.

More information on developing child care centres may be found at Start a Regulated Child Care Centre.

Regulated Family Child Care Home Spaces

The Government of Saskatchewan is supporting the increase of regulated family child care homes. This will not only increase availability of child care for families across the province but create employment opportunities for those interested in caring for children within their homes.

Learn more about becoming a regulated family child care home provider.

Apply to become a regulated family child care provider.

Family Resource Centres

Saskatchewan has partnered with the federal government to create new family resource centres in various communities.

Information can be found at Community Programs for Families with Young Children.

The centres offer expert advice on a variety of topics from how to connect with your children, to how to stimulate your child's development. They provide interactive activities for babies and toddlers and support groups where young parents can share their experiences with others and seek advice.

Early Learning Intensive Support (ELIS) Program

Saskatchewan has supported inclusive early learning and child care opportunities for young children requiring intensive supports by creating Early Learning Intensive Support (ELIS) Program. ELIS builds on the strength of existing Prekindergarten programs by expanding access for children who require a significant level of support.

More information is available in the Early Learning Intensive Support Program brochure.

You can apply through your local school division.

Children Communicating, Connecting and in Community

Funding has been provided to create early learning opportunities for preschool aged children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Read more about the Children Communicating, Connecting and in Community program.

You can apply directly to Regina Public Schools or Saskatchewan Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.

Training and Equipment Grants

Funding has been provided to enhance the quality of early learning and child care experiences for children in regulated child care by providing training for early learning and child care providers, and grants for Play and Exploration and Active Play.